Welcome to my blog

Based at Kensington Central London.Qualified as a medical doctor in Western medicine over 20 years ago in China with a Medical degree from Beijing, China and a PhD degree from the UK. Many year research and clinical experiences

Doctor who is passionate about acupuncture

I love what I do, I am good at it and I am always there for my patients. If you come and see me, you will know why I am standing out.

This blog is to introduce latest development and research of acupuncture and offer a chance of awareness of more treatment options for your condition. The blog is for information purpose only.

My background: I became a qualified medical doctor in Western medicine 20 years ago in China and was well trained in Western medicine together with Chinese medicine in the best Medical University in Beijing, China. Also I was trained with Dr Zheren Xuan--famous orthopedics expert and founder of soft tissue surgery in China. I am dedicated to treat patients with acupuncture and am recognized as one of the world leading acupuncture specialists.

I obtained a PhD degree in the University of Leeds in the UK.

I had post doctoral training and worked as a senior researcher in St George's hospital, London, UK.

I had frequently presented my research findings in the top international conferences in the field.

I have many publications including ebooks and articles.

I have many year clinical experiences. Over the years of practicing, I have developed unique treatment approaches for infertility, skin aging, acne, vulvodynia, neck pain, headache, migraine, shoulder pain, back pain, fatigue, hot flushes, Parkison's disease etc to achieve best treatment results. My devotion and skills are highly praised by my patients.

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Acupuncture awareness week this year is 2nd March-8th March
2015. What do you know about acupuncture? Do you know anything about acupuncture
treating Achilles tendonitis?

Achilles tendonitis is an inflammation in Achilles tendon which is caused by an overuse injury to the thick Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle. It is very common in runners. Achilles tendonitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute Achilles tendonitis is a new injury and usually more painful. Chronic Achilles tendonitis is a prolonged injury and it may follow the acute Achilles tendonitis. The characteristic of this condition is pain and inflammation at Achilles tendon. Many factors contribute to developing the condition. 1, increased activity, for example, suddenly increase distance, speed in running. 2, change to soft training surface, for example running on the soft surface can put on excessive stretch to the tendon. 3, weak calf muscles increases the strain on the Achilles tendon. 4 running on the hill will put on more stretch on the tendon. 5 Wearing high heels constantly shortens the tendon and calf muscles. Sudden change to flat shoes from high heels for exercising will put abnormal stretch to the tendon.

The main symptom is Achilles pain at the back of the ankle, just above the heel bone. There is stiffness in the Achilles tendon especially in the morning or after a long period of rest. This is thought to be due to adhesions between the tendon sheath and the tendon itself. Redness and swelling are often seen in acute stage. Nodules or lumps may be found in the Achilles tendon, particularly 2-4cm above the heel. Tenderness of Achilles tendon can be seen during examination.

Chronic Achilles tendonitis is a difficult condition to treat due to its poor blood supply.

In acute stage, rest is a must. Continuing to train on a painful Achilles tendon could lead to the injury becoming chronic and more difficult to treat. Appling ice within 24-48 hours of injury will reduce pain and inflammation. Wearing a 1cm high heel pad can take some strain away from Achilles tendon. Achilles tendon taping technique which uses elastic bandages to support the tendon can help. Acupuncture can improve blood flow, improve oxygen supply and nutrients supply to the tendon. Also acupuncture can reduce pain and decrease inflammation. In later stage apply heat to the tendon is beneficial. Pain killers can be used in acute stage, but they may not be very effective. Long term use could delay tendon healing. Steroid injection directly into the tendon is not recommended because this can increase the risk of a total rupture of the tendon in future. Right running shoes prevent from future injury.

Once you can perform daily activities pain-free, move on to next stage which focus on improving the flexibility of the calf muscles. Massage will help prevent adhesions forming within the tendon which stop the tendon sliding smoothly in its sheath and help blood flow of calf muscles. Eccentric exercises have been proven to be very effective in the treatment of chronic achilles tendonitis. If the injury has been severe and required a sustained period of rest and the neural control or co-ordination of the ankle has been affected, proprioception which is the neural control or co-ordination of a joint may need to be improved. Finally when the pain has disappeared at least a week and the range of motion at the ankle has improved then you can begin to return to training.